Try to look at your home through the eyes of a potential buyer when you're preparing it for sale. Go through these 10 steps to make your home as attractive to buyers as possible.

STEP 1: Maximize your home's curb appeal. Feed, mow and water your lawn regularly. Plant colorful annual flowers near the door, and make sure you weed and trim the rest of your garden. Wash the windows and pick up any trash and doggy poop.

STEP 2: Perform any needed repairs on the interior or exterior of your home. Fix, paint or cosmetically enhance anything that might hinder a sale. A loose gutter for instatnce may not be a large expense to fix but may just lead to a lower offer if not fixed.

STEP 3: De-clutter all rooms to make them look and feel larger. If you have too much furniture in a room considering storing it somewhere else until the house is sold.

STEP 4: Clean the oven, stove, refrigerator, exhaust fan and kitchen sink very thoroughly--and keep them clean. Clear the kitchen counters of items you don't use daily. You clean your car before you take it for a trade in to the dealer – do the same for your home.

STEP 5: Replace the toilet seat and shower curtain if they are a bit old and worn. Clean the bathroom thoroughly and hang fresh towels every day.

STEP 6: Put your pets away when potential buyers arrive. You love 'em, but your potential buyers may be afraid or allergic. If your dogs sleep in the house preferably stow away their bedding or at least make sure it does not have a doggy smell, which you may not even notice yourself.

STEP 7: Vacuum your carpets, or have them professionally cleaned. Clean and polish all smooth floors.

STEP 8: Replace cracked or broken window panes, and make sure all windows open, close and lock smoothly.

STEP 9: Patch any holes or cracks in the walls and ceilings. Give them a fresh coat of paint in a neutral color such as off-white. (Be sure you allow enough time for paint to dry so the house doesn't have that fresh-paint smell.)

STEP 10: Do not smoke in your house and especially not before a buyer arrives. You probably can't smell it, but your house smells of smoke. Have drapes, curtains, upholstery and carpets professionally cleaned. If you need to smoke then do it outside-- and don't leave an unsightly bucket of butts next to a door.